Capt Shakil Ahmed is an exceptional leader and a role model for the youth of India. A notable Army veteran and Sword of Honour awardee from Officers Training Academy, Chennai, he is a C-suite leader with three decades of prolific experience. From commanding troops in operations to mentoring teams in boardrooms and co-founding a publishing house that champions peace and diversity, his journey has been a layered one.
His latest role is as co-editor of My India, My Gods Vol. 2, an anthology of personal essays on faith, divinity, and spirituality. “India is breathtaking in its diversity,” Shakil explains. “Everything—language, customs, food, rituals—changes every few kilometres. And yet, beneath it all is a spiritual thread that unites. These essays surprised even me, someone who studied in Kendriya Vidyalayas and served in the Indian Army. I thought I was inclusive. But the stories in this book taught me how much more there is to learn, to feel, and to honour.”
The anthology, according to Shakil, is not just a book—it is a response. “Our generation has failed our children,” he says, without flinching. “We’ve failed them in environmental sustainability, in education, in values. There’s a deep corruption of thought and discourse. The communal narratives around us are disturbing.”
But instead of despair, he chose action—quiet, meaningful, and creative. “My wife Sahana, an author and activist, and I channelled that helplessness into Bare Bones Publishing,” he says. “We decided to build a platform that nurtures stories of faith, peace, belongingness, and harmony. My India, My Gods is a small but firm step in that direction. We’re not here to preach. We’re here to preserve the joy of reading—and the possibility of empathy.”
Shakil’s own story, however, begins far from publishing. Raised across Jamshedpur, Bhubaneswar, and Sambalpur, his early life was shaped by both comfort and chaos. His father worked with National Metallurgical Laboratories, Jamshedpur, and then Regional Research Laboratories, Bhubaneswar, under CSIR. Those early years were idyllic, and life in the beautiful campuses provided routine, discipline, and a sense of belonging. That tranquility, however, shifted in fourth grade when the family moved to Sambalpur due to property-related issues on his mother’s side. They settled in a Muslim ghetto where life became considerably rougher, more lows than highs, but their resilience and optimism never wavered. The contrast in environment left a lasting mark. “It was tough,” he says. “But also character-building.”
Capt Shakil credits much of his success to the many teachers he met across six different schools. His college years were less straightforward; he began at Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology in Bhubaneswar but later transitioned to Gangadhar Meher College in Sambalpur, where he completed his degree in Chemistry. Academically, it wasn’t his strongest period.
“I was strong academically till Class 9.” At one point, he aspired to join the Indian Police Service, encouraged by his mother. “But that dream faded, thanks to my exposure to B-grade Hindi movies, where policemen were shown as corrupt,” he laughs.
Structure returned to his life in the form of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). He joined it in Class 7 and again in college, excelling to the point of representing Odisha as Parade Commander at the Republic Day Camp in 1995. Two gold medals and a life-changing selection to the Canada World Youth Exchange Program followed. “Spending over seven months with young people from India and Canada changed my worldview,” he recalls.
He was quite active in sports: mostly football, cricket, volleyball, and table tennis. He had 
dreamt of becoming a fighter pilot. His entry into the Army, though, was both inevitable and accidental. He had cleared the entrance exam for the Indian Air Force but couldn’t join it, thanks to what he calls “well-meaning sabotage” from his mother. In May 1996, he joined Officers Training Academy (OTA), in peak summer. The training was intense, fast-tracked, and punishing under Chennai’s scorching heat. Towards the end of the course, he fractured his right wrist but he pleaded and convinced the medical officer to let him continue. With one hand in plaster, he completed the training. He went on to command the passing-out parade and won the Sword of Honour, Silver Medal, and additional accolades for excellence.
Capt Shakil’s stint with the Army Air Defence remains a point of pride. He served during two of the Indian Army’s landmark operations, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram. After his initial five-year tenure, he extended his service, eventually transitioning to civilian life when an opportunity came from the Reserve Bank of India. The Army had armed him with a formidable toolkit, leadership, strategic thinking, and composure under pressure. These capabilities translated seamlessly into the corporate arena
Over the last two decades, Shakil has worked with ten top organisations, leading functions across strategic risk, corporate affairs, law enforcement response, CSR, crisis management, brand assurance, IFM & real estate, and more. “It wasn’t a planned path,” he says. “There was no LinkedIn back then. You just figured it out. But I’ve been lucky, and I’ve learnt a lot.”
His heart, however, now beats strongest for Bare Bones Publishing, the boutique house he runs with his wife. “Sahana is the visionary. I support, advise, and handle operations where needed,” he says. Their latest offerings include Unsung Mothers of the Indian Constitution, Jade and the Harmony Flyers, and The Bare Bones Book of Creativity. Each book, in its own way, champions empathy, originality, and resilience.
Now, they are launching a new imprint: VTRN, a series of inspirational military-themed literature for all ages. “These are stories written by veterans,” Shakil shares. “They’ll explore leadership, peace, sacrifice, and inner strength, values that matter more than ever. We are inviting submissions soon.”
“Our children deserve a better world,” he says, simply. “If we can offer even a sliver of that hope through stories, through books, they’ll know we tried.”
One book at a time, he concludes.
For more details, please visit the Bare Bones website at www.barebonespublishing.in
